Chess Puzzle #90Mel — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c7; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks a8/f8; bishops e7/g4; knight f7; pawns a7/b7/e5/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bd6 — bishop e7→d6. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen c7→d6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nxd6 — knight f7→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Bd6.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppQ1bnpp/8/3Ppp1q/6b1/3B1N2/PP1N1PPP/R4R1K w - - 0 17

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